Praise.

The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.-DEUT. 33. 27.

My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.—Isa. 32. 18.

RESTING on the faithfulness of Christ our Lord;
Resting on the fulness of His own sure Word;
Resting on His power, on His love untold;
Resting on His Covenant secured of old.

Resting 'neath His guiding hand for untracked days,
Resting 'neath His shadow from the noontide rays;
Resting at the eventide beneath His wing,
In the fair pavilion of our Saviour-King.

Resting in the fortress while the foe is nigh;
Resting in the lifeboat while the waves roll high;
Resting in His chariot for the swift, glad race;
Resting, always resting in His boundless grace.
Resting in the pastures and beneath the Rock;
Resting by the waters where He leads His flock;
Resting, while we listen, at His glorious feet;
Resting in His very arms-oh, rest complete!

Resting and believing, let us onward press,
Resting on Himself, the Lord our Righteousness!
Resting and rejoicing, let His saved ones sing,
Glory, glory, glory, be to Christ our King!

F. R. Havergal.

Father, breathe an evening blessing,
Ere repose our spirits seal;

Sin and want we come confessing,

Thou canst save, and Thou canst heal.
Though the night be dark and dreary,

Darkness cannot hide from Thee;

Thou art He, who never weary
Watchest where Thy people be.

J. Edmeston.

Prayer.

LORD God of Heaven, we praise Thee for the light and blessing of this day. For all Thy tender care we thank Thee. We will remember Thy love. Through another week Thou hast led us on, and mercifully borne with our sins and shortcomings. For Christ's sake forgive us all that is past. Each day brings to us fresh tokens of Thy goodness. Great is Thy faithfulness. May we rest in Thy love, secure from all foes and fears. To-morrow, Lord, is the day which Thou hast set apart for Thyself. Help each one of us to spend it aright. Give to us the hearing ear, the understanding heart, and the consecrated will. May our souls be athirst for God, even for the living God. Satisfy us with the goodness of Thy House. In Thy light may we see light. Open Thou our lips, and our mouths shall show forth Thy praise. Pour out Thy Holy Spirit upon all who shall assemble in Thy House of Prayer. Endue Thy Ministers with righteousness, and make Thy chosen people joyful. Bless all Sunday Schools, and make them true nurseries for the lambs of Thy Flock. May all who teach be taught of Thee. And now, loving Father, take us under Thy care. Bless us and all who are near and dear to us, and grant us peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels; Send down upon our Bishops and Pastors, and all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of Thy grace; and that they may truly please Thee, pour upon them the continual dew of Thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Grant to us, Lord we beseech Thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as be rightful; that we, who cannot do anything that is good without Thee, may by Thee be enabled to live according to Thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Father, &c. The grace of our Lord, &c.

Praise.

They constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him.-ST. LUKE 24. 29-31.

SUN of my soul, Thou Saviour dear,
It is not night if Thou be near;

Oh may no earthborn cloud arise,
To hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes.

When with dear friends sweet talk I hold,

And all the flowers of life unfold;

Let not my heart within me burn,
Except in all I Thee discern.

When the soft dews of kindly sleep
My wearied eyelids gently steep,

Be
my last thought, how sweet to rest
For ever on my Saviour's breast.

Abide with me from morn till eve,
For without Thee I cannot live;
Abide with me when night is nigh,
For without Thee I dare not die.

If some poor wandering child of Thine
Have spurn'd to-day the voice divine,
Now, Lord, the gracious work begin;
Let him no more lie down in sin.

Watch by the sick, enrich the poor
With blessings from Thy boundless store :
Be every mourner's sleep to-night,
Like infant's slumbers, pure and light.

Come near and bless us when we wake,
Ere through the world our way we take,
Till in the ocean of Thy love

We lose ourselves in heaven above.

J. Kebie.

Prayer.

LESSED Father, we thank Thee for Thy precious gift of the Sabbath. For welcome rest from toil, for the revelation of Thy great love, for the atoning work of Christ, for the presence of the Holy Spirit, for the means of grace. and the hope of glory, we praise Thee. Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love, and rejoice in the prospect of a nobler rest. Too often we draw near to Thee with our lips, whilst our hearts are far from Thee. Pardon for Christ's sake our lack of devotion, and all vain and worldly thoughts. Help us to be doers of the Word, and to live our creed. May our words and meditations ever be acceptable before Thee, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. Bless Thy ministers and missionary servants everywhere. Give then the mind of the Good Shepherd that they may faithfully and lovingly care for those committed to their charge. Bless, O Lord, Thy Church, especially that branch of it to which we belong. May it be pure in doctrine, watchful in spirit, and faithful to its great trust. Unite all its members in the bond of holy love, so that with one heart and one mind they may glorify Thee. And now, Father, take us and ours under Thy protection. Let Thy banner over us be love. When on the morrow we go forth into the world, may we not be of the world. Abide with us evermore; increase our faith, and grant us Thy peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord Jesu Christ, who at Thy first coming didst send Thy messenger to prepare Thy way before Thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of Thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready Thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at Thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in Thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

The grace of our Lord, &c.

Praise.

Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.— PSALM 141. 2.

FOR the beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,

Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and brain's delight,
For the mystic harmony

Linking sense to sound and sight,
Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,
Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For each perfect gift of Thine

To our race so freely given,

Graces human and divine,

Flowers of earth and buds of heaven,
Christ, our God, to Thee we raise

This our sacrifice of praise.

F. S. Pierpoint.